Godspeed You, Paul Brett

February 1, 2024

Dear friend has passed away yesterday, the great Paul Brett, guitarist and luthier, an artist fiercely proud of his past yet always looking to the future. Paul’s delight was almost palpable when he informed me "Stone Survivor: Anthology" was to be released which he so wanted me to listen to and review; and Brett was equally eager for me to hear and comment on his recent works such as "The Raven" which he based on Edgar Allan Poe’s oeuvre. The veteran never tired of mentioning his late ’60s stint with Arthur Brown and VELVET OPERA or his part in "The Magic Shoemaker" by FIRE, but didn’t really seem to appreciate the success he had with “3D Mona Lisa” – credited to PAUL BRETT SAGE – in 1970, because, above all, he valued innovation.

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PIXIES’ BBC Sessions Come To Order

January 31, 2024

Once upon a time, a sold-out tour ordinarily followed the release of a new album, but though those days are gone, PIXIES, who don’t have a fresh platter out, decided to revisit, a quarter of a century down the line, their “At the BBC” collection to expand it and issue not only as a 2CD set but also as a triple vinyl package. All in all, there were six Beeb sessions that the band recorded during their 4AD tenure, between 1988 and 1991, and the old comp cherrypicked 15 tracks from the transmissions, while “Live At The BBC” – this is the title of the new one – gathers everything which was played then: 24 numbers, including the cover of THE BEACH BOYS’ “Hang On To Your Ego” (better known as “I Know There’s An Answer”).

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Phil Manzanera Harnesses The Sound Of Revolution

January 30, 2024

Given the course of Phil Manzanera life, creative and otherwise, his forthcoming autobiography “Revolución To Roxy” – to be published in March – is eagerly anticipated by many a fan, yet some of the guitarist’s weren’t too happy to learn that they would have to shell out a tidy sum for the book’s deluxe edition to get hold of a ten-track CD with rare and previously unreleased tracks which goes with it. So, always attentive to his followers’ needs, the veteran decided to make the disc available separately too.

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Tony Christie Heading For Cropredy With New Record

January 29, 2024

This artist is one of the most unexpected performers scheduled to appear at Cropredy Festival 2024 – both from stylistic point of view and in light of last year’s announcement of him being diagnosed with dementia – yet there’s perfect logic in Tony Christie‘s one-off return to the stage. First off, his 2015’s platter was “The Great Irish Songbook” – a record emphasizing the veteran’s folk credentials – and then, February 16th will see the release of his new album.

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Punk Veterans Venerate PINK FLOYD

January 28, 2024

There was a time when punk artists used to despise prog ensembles, considering the latter dinosaurs, but, seeing how many of the former have been roaming the earth for more than four decades, there’s really no difference between Mesozoic and Jurassic rock periods now. Still, it’s rather surprising to see a special sort of tribute album, a homage to PINK FLOYD, is being readied for release on April 12th.

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